The MINE (Mid-Iowa Narcotics Enforcement) MINE arrests meth supplier

The MINE (Mid-Iowa Narcotics Enforcement) Task Force arrested a large methamphetamine suppler to Jasper and other five other surrounding counties Saturday night on Des Moines’ southeast side.

According to Task Force Supervisor and Jasper County Sheriff’s Lt. Eric Nation, Roger Juarez of Des Moines was arrested after a several week-long investigation. Ten ounces of Crystal Methamphetamine, $2,400 in cash and two vehicles were seized in connection with the arrest.

A Newton officer, who’s identity is not being divulged by MINE due to continuing undercover investigations, was the arresting authority in the case. Nation said that two weeks prior to the Juarez arrest, that same Newton officer recovered seven ounces of meth $17,000 in cash and once vehicle in connection with the case on Des Moines’ northeast side.

“They all link back to Jasper County,” said Nation. “Many of the suspects we’ve busted recently have had notable amounts of Ice (meth).”

Details in the case are sparse due to the ongoing investigation, and the official report is not yet available. But Nation told Newton Daily News Wednesday that Juarez is being held in the Polk County Jail.

In the last two weeks Nation and the task force have also picked up five different meth lab dump sites in the Grinnell area. According to Nation all sites had been abandon within two to three days of their discovery by MINE.

“They were all pretty fresh,” he said.

There are no suspects in connection with the dump, and the cases are still under investigation.

Meth has a street value in Iowa of $2,400 an ounce. Recently, the task force has observed an alarming trend in the manufacturing of meth in Jasper County and central Iowa. A “shake and bake” method has been presenting itself where manufactures mix the chemical ingredients in pop bottles without the addition of anhydrous ammonia, a main ingredient in the traditional method of cooking the substance.

“It doesn’t require heat, its cheaper and there is less order,” said Nation.

According to Task Force Supervisor and Jasper County Sheriff’s Lt. Eric Nation, Roger Juarez of Des Moines was arrested after a several week-long investigation. Ten ounces of Crystal Methamphetamine, $2,400 in cash and two vehicles were seized in connection with the arrest.

A Newton officer, whose identity is not being divulged by MINE due to continuing undercover investigations, was the arresting authority in the case. Nation said that two weeks prior to the Juarez arrest, that same Newton officer recovered seven ounces of meth $17,000 in cash and one vehicle in connection with the case on Des Moines’ northeast side.

“They all link back to Jasper County,” said Nation. “Many of the suspects we’ve busted recently have had notable amounts of Ice (meth).”

Details in the case are sparse due to the ongoing investigation, and the official report is not yet available. But Nation told Newton Daily News Wednesday that Juarez is being held in the Polk County Jail.

In the last two weeks Nation and the task force have also picked up five different meth lab dump sites in the Grinnell area. According to Nation all sites had been abandon within two to three days of their discovery by MINE.

“They were all pretty fresh,” he said.

There are no suspects in connection with the dump, and the cases are still under investigation.

Meth has a street value in Iowa of $2,400 an ounce. Recently, the task force has observed an alarming trend in the manufacturing of meth in Jasper County and central Iowa. A “shake and bake” method has been presenting itself where manufactures mix the chemical ingredients in pop bottles without the addition of anhydrous ammonia, a main ingredient in the traditional method of cooking the substance.

“It doesn’t require heat, its cheaper and there is less order,” said Nation.